Braves Prospect Nacho Álvarez Suffers Another Setback With Oblique Injury
Just 10 days after returning from a lengthy wrist injury, top Braves prospect Nacho Álvarez has been sidelined again—this time with an oblique strain suffered during a Triple-A game. The 24-year-old infielder exited in the seventh inning, cutting short a promising offensive surge that had put him back on the radar as a potential call-up.
Álvarez had been on fire at the plate for Triple-A Gwinnett, hitting .379 with a 1.113 OPS over nine games, according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. His recent production was turning heads, especially with Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies struggling offensively this season. A major league promotion was starting to feel within reach.
Ranked as the Braves’ No. 3 prospect and considered the top infield talent in the farm system, Álvarez’s 2024 resurgence was a welcome sign after a tough MLB debut last season, where he hit just .100 over eight games. He was sent back to the minors in July 2024 and hasn’t returned to the big league roster since.
Nacho Álvarez
The timing of this injury is especially frustrating. Oblique strains are notoriously difficult to recover from and often require several weeks—or more—of rest. The full extent of the strain hasn’t been disclosed, but Álvarez is expected to land on the 7-day injured list. With the minor league season nearing its close, there’s real concern this could end his 2025 campaign prematurely.
Across 73 career Triple-A games, Álvarez has posted a strong .305 average and .891 OPS. Had he remained healthy, he likely would’ve been a prime candidate to fill in if the Braves needed infield reinforcements for a postseason push. Now, those plans are on hold as Álvarez faces yet another road to recovery.
Leave a Reply